Research Like a Scholar
How Scholarly is Your Research?
Tips for Successful Research
- Get to know the assignment! Important dates, citation style, final product, source criteria
- Get an early start! Ask for help along the way (earlier is better)
- Get and stay organized! - (use “Technology Tips” to help with this one)
- Do NOT rely solely on Google! - Use databases and check sources for C.R.A.A.P.
- Avoid Plagiarism! - Don’t look; Don’t “borrow”
- Ask for Help! - Stop by the library or email Ms. Adams
Getting Organized
Determine your information needs based on the assignment criteria and your general knowledge about the topic. If it is an unfamiliar topic, start general to gather some basic information.
- Gather General Information = a good place to start is an encyclopedia like Britannica or Credo Reference are online and can be accessed through DISCUS.
- In-depth research on the topic = Search with Google Scholar or databases (DISCUS) for Scholarly Journal Articles, online newspaper indexes can also be useful for current event topics
- Books for established information topics = search using library catalog
Use smart information search habits
- develop keyword lists that include synonyms related to your topic
- narrow or broaden your results by adding or removing search terms
- use boolean logic to string together searches, eliminating “stop” words (conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs or forms of “be”)
Choosing the Best Search!
Whatever search you choose, BE SURE to put your INFORMATION through the C.R.A.A.P. Test!
Even when using a database, you will want to make sure the sources you use are:
current enough for,
relevant to,
and satisfy the purpose of,
your project!
Why Databases?
Things to Remember when searching Databases:
- Databases to don’t respond to questions like Google and other online search engines
- Use keywords and the synonyms from your list to device searches using Boolean Operators
- Utilize truncation, wildcards, phrase searches (“”) use related subject links to focus results
- Check the Search “Help” for the particular database you are using and learn more
- Using “Advanced” searches allows for customized searches
- Full-text Scholarly “peer reviewed” Journal articles are available
Keywords = The Key to Successful Database Searches!
Choosing the Best Search!
Learn the basics about searching databases and popular information sources provided by your Library and/or DISCUS (visit the LMC for off campus access to DISCUS).
Let's Review Tips for Searching Databases!
1. Use Advanced Search - allows you to search multiple KEYWORDS at once
2. Use Boolean Operators (AND, OR & NOT) to narrow or broaden search, AND to get results with all of your terms, OR to search for articles that have any of your terms, and NOT to exclude unwanted terms (Default search in Ebscohost)
3. Check Full Text to get only articles in their entirety, and select Scholarly or Peer Reviewed for articles reviewed by experts before article publication
4. Stay away from searches that are too broad or too narrow
5. Use quotations around terms that go together (Phrase searching), (search for "death camps" or "concentration camps" "extermination camp")
6. Look for similar and official subjects for your topic (Use Ebscohost Academic Search Premier's Subject Terms to add keywords or search phrases, Explode pertinent subjects to find broader/narrower terms) (Practice: Do a Subject terms search for Holocuast and then check "Explode" and click on the subject link associated with it)
7. Search within a certain publication
8. Use the Cite feature to help with Reference lists
Do Search the Library Catalog!
Don't ignore one of the most accessable resources to you, the library collection!
Do use any computer to search for library books and digital sources on your topic.
Can't find it?
Ask ask a library staff member for help!
Let's Go Search!
Go to the Library Catalog (Can be accessed from the the bookmark bar on your D5 Chomebook)
Login using your school number and password (same as you use to login to a computer in the library, D5 gmail address minus the @stu.lexrich5.org) (Get help from library staff if this does not work!)
Search by keywords, subject terms, or author names.
Results are broken down into Books, Databases, etc. (These tabs are listed across the top of the results list)
(Databases will only be availalbe if you are logged in.)
Books that are available will have the green triangle in top corner. If something is NOT available put a hold on it!
Database list will show the number of results in many of the DISCUS databases!
TOO many results, not exactly what you need, the NARROW results using phrase searches ( "football injuries" ).
Choosing the Best Search!
What's the Difference? Scholarly Journals vs. Magazines
Checkout the following Resources to learn the Basic Differences between Magazines and Scholarly Journals:
Watch the following short video tutorial created by the Washington University Libraries
Click on the link to visit UCF Libraries site for a chart on the formatting, purpose and other differences between scholarly journals, general news, popular magazines and sensational journalism sources.
Wiki infograph from madamslex5
Cite Your Sources!
To Start Using NoodleTools, click on NoodleTools signin page and click on REGISTER button. Then enter the CHS username and password provided by your teacher or library staff member.
Tips for Using NoodleTools
Start by clicking on the +New Project button! (Give it a name unique to your assignment)
Open your project and click on the SOURCES tab to begin adding citations!
Click on the +Create new citation button to add citations
Direct Export to Noodletools from Databases
Many database have a direct export for citations to NoodleTools (Credo and Gale products). Log into your NoodleTools account, keep tab, and source list, open while you search databases in a second tab.
* You will need to refresh the browser to see the new citation in Noodletools!
** Remember to always check your citations for accuracy. Make corrections as needed!
HELPFUL HINT - Urls exported from databases are permalinks and will always take you back to the source!